Saturday, December 20, 2014

Florida Gay Marriage Update

Good news for our LGBT community in Florida. The United States Supreme Court denied the State of Florida’s motion for a stay of an August federal court ruling that overturned the state’s ban on marriage for gay & lesbian couples. The order means the stay expires at the end of the day on January 5th 2015. This means that gay & lesbian couples will be free to marry in Florida once the stay in the ruling is lifted. Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida stated, "We are thrilled the U.S. Supreme Court has denied the State's request to delay marriages in Florida. Every day of delay is another day of harm experienced by thousands of loving & committed gay & lesbian couples in Florida. It's time to break out the wedding bells! We look forward to January 6th being a special day -- Florida is ready for the freedom to marry." Daniel Tilley of the ACLU of Florida emphasized that now clerks across the entire state have a duty to marry couples adding “The Supreme Court has spoken & we expect clerks to begin marrying couples who will finally get access to the protections their families deserve.” On December 3rd the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit denied the State of Florida’s request for an extension of that stay, allowing gay & lesbian couples to marry, even as the appeal in the case proceeded.LISTEN: Kate Clinton: 2014 LGBT Review & 2015 ForecastHear Audio Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders@OUTTAKE VOICES™OUTTAKE VOICES™ NOW ON HUFF POST...:)SUPPORT OUTTAKE™ @ OUR EQUALITY STORE